http://hdl.handle.net/2123/6833 2013-06-19T08:00:15Z 2013-06-19T08:00:15Z Westcott, Mark http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7065 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Labour Management and Firm Financing: Explaining Workplace Change in CUB's Breweries, 1991-2003 Authors: Westcott, Mark Abstract: The nature of the relationship between company financing and labour management has become increasingly analysed in recent years. Companies in countries characterised by large and relatively liberal capital markets are generally seen to favour market mediated relationships with workers, customers, suppliers and financiers. Moreover, management in these companies are more likely to prioritise the interests of financiers over other parties. Together these observations create a relatively bleak outlook for labour. While there is a growing literature around national systems of corporate governance and models of corporate financing, the extent to which these aggregated tendencies impact on individual company and enterprise level operations remains relatively untested. Some scholars have argued that management retain a capacity to make strategic choices about labour management and that indeed the extent to which companies are sensitive to capital market pressures will vary greatly. This paper examines the labour management choices made by Fosters, a large Australian multinational company, with respect to its brewery workforce, specifically at its Kent brewery in New South Wales. Fosters management elected to develop a partnership arrangement with its unionised workforce in order to introduce a substantial workplace change program. This change program combined both a focus on cost cutting and skill development. Fosters introduced this program at a time of corporate crisis with the company heavily indebted and unprofitable. That such a program was introduced in this particular context reinforces the notion that strategic choices remain open to management in terms of their approach to labour management. The tightness in financial markets was important for encouraging management to introduce operational reforms at the brewery. However, these conditions did not determine the pursuit of a partnership approach to change. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Tasneem, Farisa http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7064 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Electronic Business and Legal Effect of Electronic Contracts in Australia Authors: Tasneem, Farisa Abstract: Electronic commerce has transformed the manner of conducting commercial transactions which pose challenges to both consumers and business. Attempts are being made to regulate electronic contracts both at the national and international level. This article analyses the manner in which international developments are taking place by organisations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OECD), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) from the 1980s. The research also analyses the impact of Electronic Transaction Legislation of Australia, Trade Practices Act (1974) and the proposed new amendments. The research highlights the extent to which issues are resolved. Field of Research: Electronic commerce law, electronic business, internet law and international legal developments. Research Method and Methodology: Empirical research was employed. Document analysis and study of legislation was performed in relation to internet based transactions. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Paton, Michael http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7063 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Gender Roles in Ming Dynasty China: The Water Dragon Classic Authors: Paton, Michael Abstract: This paper considers the relationship between spatiality, emotions and gender from the theoretical perspective of traditional Chinese thought in the early art/science of fengshui (wind and water). The discussion is based on translations of the seminal Form School fengshui text: Mi chuan shuilong jing (the Secretly Passed down Water Dragon Classic), compiled by the renowned scholar Jiang Pingjie in the late Ming dynasty (circa. 1600 CE). The discussion concludes with what light these traditional concepts might shed on present day gender roles and business in China, specifically in relation to the oversimplification of the Confucian basis of Chinese culture in the business literature. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Jurado, Tanya http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7062 2010-12-08T05:04:54Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An Historical Overview of New Zealand SME Policy, 1978-2008 Authors: Jurado, Tanya Abstract: This paper is an historical enquiry into small and medium enterprise (SME) policy development in New Zealand during the years 1978 to 2008. Following the publication of the Bolton Report (1971) in the United Kingdom and the findings of a United States study on the contribution that SMEs make to the generation of employment, governments in OECD countries, including in New Zealand, paid increasing attention to the development of this important sector of the economy. There are now numerous studies which have looked into the economic contribution that SMEs make, and a number of papers about government policies might be developed to best assist the growth of SMEs. There has not, however, been a historical account of the circumstances under which SME policy has developed, nor have the distinctive and identifiable features of SME policy-making been understood within the historical context of a particular country. This study suggests that there have been three distinctive phases in the development of New Zealand government policy towards SMEs. During the 1978 to 1984 period, SME policy was a component of regional policy initiatives within an overall protectionist economic policy environment. In the 1984 to 1998 period there was little targeted assistance, and government policy concentrated on eliminating much of the protectionism that had dominated the New Zealand economy previously. The final period suggested by this study spans the years 1998 to 2008 where the government made more concerted efforts to develop SME policy by using a range of policy tools that included private-public partnerships for the delivery of policy. Policy makers in this latter period were also firmly aware that the SME sector is a complex one and put their efforts into the development of specific and targeted policies directed at SMEs. This study found that the historical context in which SME policy was developed played an important role in the approach taken by policy makers. It provides insights into the impacts of policy implementation and builds on the existing knowledge-base from which policy makers, SME owner-managers and academic researchers can draw when they consider future SME policy development. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Knowles, Harry http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7061 2010-12-05T17:34:52Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: New Prospectors: The Formation and Early Years of the Scottish Australian Mining Company in Newcastle, NSW, 1850-70 Authors: Knowles, Harry Abstract: Following the end of the Australian Agricultural Company’s monopoly in the coal-mining region of Newcastle, NSW, in the late 1840s, the Scottish Australian Investment Company (SAIC), headquartered in London, was amongst the first of several firms to seek mining opportunities in the Hunter region of NSW. As part of a broader project evaluating social and economic influences of the Northumberland/Durham coal mining regions on the early development of the Newcastle coalfields, this paper presents an overview of the role of individuals in the events and decisions surrounding formation and early successes of the Scottish Australian Mining Company which went on to become one of the leading coal producers in the region in the second half of the nineteenth century. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Kerr, Melissa http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7060 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An Early NSW Government Attempt at Solving the Unemployed Problem: The Casual Labour Board, 1887-88 Authors: Kerr, Melissa Abstract: Throughout the literature little appears to be known about the early Government attempts to provide public employment services in Australia. Subsequently, there appears to be much conjecture over when and where these first occurred, also in what form they took, and who influenced their design. This paper examines the first attempt to provide a public employment service in New South Wales. While both Coghlan and Reeves have claimed that the Government Labour Bureau was the earliest public employment service in New South Wales, it had a predecessor: the Casual Labour Board established on 2 May 1887 later terminated on 29 December 1888. Faced with high unemployment, unemployed deputations and industrial unrest, Premier Parkes established the Casual Labour Board in an attempt to undertake significant labour market reform. Parkes envisioned a system that would assist and support capital development by facilitating the recruitment process, whilst also alleviating the recurring politically sensitive problem of unemployment. During its 18 months of operations the Casual Labour Board was largely successful in placing nearly 8,000 men in employment, of which approximately 30 per cent were placed in private employment. In an economy with a limited industrial base, this was quite an achievement and demonstrates a genuine need for an employment service. However, the Casual Labour Board was largely born out of political necessity and failed to receive adequate long-term support. Ultimately it was undermined by a number of politically sensitive factors: unsustainable costs associated with the Government relief works; political patronage; and allegations of corruption and fraud. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Jenvey, Lian http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7059 2010-12-05T17:34:52Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: ‘The war is a money making show’: Working-Class Attitudes to World War II and Australian Nationalism Authors: Jenvey, Lian Abstract: This paper will address the conference themes of ‘class, power and social structure’ through examining industrial and ideological conflict during World War II. The paper will also address the theme of ‘class and culture’ through an examination of working-class cultural expression as a means of resistance to the government’s wartime offensive. What is overlooked in most histories of World War II is the working-class experience of the war and their understanding of nationalism, particularly as nationalism was cynically exploited by the government to undermine working-class identity and solidarity. The paper will investigate the experience of one of the most militant sections of the Australian working class: the Miners. Primary source material such as the Miners’ journal Common Cause and union records reveal opposition to the war and a much more ambiguous attitude to the national sentiment used to justify Australia’s involvement. The Miners provide an interesting case study as the union was led by the Communist Party. Therefore the union leadership initially opposed to the war then became enthusiastic supporters when Russia entered the war on the allied side. It is clear that the Miners’ union leadership found it difficult to convince the rank and file to support the war. The paper will focus upon rank and file attitudes to the war and Australian nationalism particularly during times of industrial unrest. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Mees, Bernard http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7058 2010-12-05T17:34:52Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Corporate Governance as a Movement Authors: Mees, Bernard Description: Peer reviewed

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Gupta, Vipin Graves, Chris Thomas, Jill http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7057 2010-12-05T17:34:52Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Understanding the Internationalisation of Family Businesses: Lessons from the History of Chinese and Lebanese Diaspora Authors: Gupta, Vipin; Graves, Chris; Thomas, Jill Abstract: The emerging work on the internationalisation of the family businesses suggests that family businesses in general tend have low levels of internationalisation when compared to their non-family counterparts. Here, we review the Diaspora internationalisation history of Chinese family businesses in Southeast Asia, and of Lebanese family businesses in West Africa. The review highlights the interplay with the local varieties of capitalism, and underscores four factors in successful overseas market entry and growth of the overseas family businesses (OFBs): business strategic intent, family stewardship, direct and institution-mediating community sponsorship, and gender-centred leadership. We offer a schematic mapping of these four factors on to the four systems of family business – family, business, ownership, and gender, using Parson’s structural functionalism theory and AGIL schema Implications for further research and for the family business practitioners are discussed. Description: Peer reviewed

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Di Lernia, Cary http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7056 2010-12-05T17:34:51Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A History of the Infringement Notice Mechanism and its Use in the Enforcement of Australia’s Continuous Disclosure Regime Authors: Di Lernia, Cary Abstract: In modern markets the need for the timely disclosure of detailed, accurate financial information is born of the radical separation of management and control apparent in the majority of large modern organisations. Inadequate disclosure of material information concerning the future and fortunes of listed companies can detract from the integrity of the market and its ability to provide a fair and efficient mechanism for participation in securities markets, while also impacting upon the perceived credibility of financial markets and the corporations constituting them. Reduced confidence in financial markets can in turn have longer-term flow on effects which can be felt throughout the economy. It follows that the effective operation of Australia's continuous disclosure regime is of great consequence in the Australian economic, political and social landscape. This paper details the history of the regime, the reasons for its introduction, and features of its recent enforcement by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). It uses this history to assess whether the most recently created and most often employed enforcement tool, the infringement notice mechanism, is achieving the goals set for it at its inception. Description: Peer reviewed

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Russell, Samuel http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7055 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Four Work-Ins by Australian Journalists, 1944-80 Authors: Russell, Samuel Abstract: During industrial disputes with employers between 1944 and 1980 the Australian Journalist's Association occasionally turned to the tactic of the work-in, producing wild cat newspapers during strikes in Sydney. These newspapers (The News, and The Clarion) exemplified problematic elements of the work-in as a working-class strategy. While single incident studies of the work-in have been conducted in Australia, the Australian Journalist Association work-ins present a time series of struggle. This time series allows for a broader evaluation of the radical content of the work-in and indicates that the tactic can become systematised, less radical, and less participatory when not connected to a broader generation of workplace radical behaviour by workers. In short: the work-in, much like the strike or go slow, can become a tame cat tactic – it is not inherently transgressive or opposed to capitalist production. Expectedly, the first work-ins were more radical in scope, presenting a newspaper which fully duplicated the commodity produced under capitalist control and in some ways exceeded the scope presented by capitalist organised journalism in both a material and a cultural sense. However, this radical economic potential dissipated by the end of the time series of work-ins. Instead of providing an alternative commodity fit for market, the tactic produced propaganda pieces aimed primarily at the members of the community who would be predisposed to favour the journalist's case. The 1980s Clarion was not a daily newspaper of news, sport, racing, women's interest, classifieds, and general opinion. This change will be explained in terms of human causes such as skills loss, production process causes such as computerisation and wire services, and broader social causes such as the changing role of the newspaper in Australian society. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Donleavy, Gabriel http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7054 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Legal Origins of Fair Value Accounting Authors: Donleavy, Gabriel Abstract: The paper seeks answers to the question how FASB was able to introduce the term ‘fair value’ into accounting standards and wider accounting discourse as frictionlessly as it did. Leading relevant court cases in the USA and UK in the previous two centuries had already enabled this to happen, but the judicial rationales for that term were significantly different from the current rationales in FASB and IASB. The paper traces the evolution of the notion from its origins in the ‘just price’ to its court appearances in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution through to its established meaning by the end of last century. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Balnave, Nikola Patmore, Greg http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7053 2010-12-05T17:34:53Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The Origins and Early Years of the Barossa Community Store, 1944-65 Authors: Balnave, Nikola; Patmore, Greg Abstract: The Barossa Community Store in Nuriootpa is Australia’s largest and most successful surviving Rochdale co-operative store. It is located in the Barossa Valley, the centre of one of Australia’s major wine growing regions. This paper explores the origins of the store against the background of the German heritage of the Valley and the community movement that developed in the town and attracted both national and international interest. The early years of the store, which arose from the result of the mutualisation of a successful non-co-operative retailer, saw tensions between leaders of the co-operative and the broader community over whether surpluses should be retained by the co-operative or ploughed back into the community. The co-operative saw need to raise capital to grow by seeking additional sources of capital beyond members’ shares. Management also had to face the challenge of changing retail practices, which gradually saw the shift to self-service and the opening of its first supermarket under the Co-operative brand in December 1965. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Kennedy, Ann-Marie Ravenswood, Katherine http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7052 2010-12-05T17:34:50Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Changing Parental Leave Orientations in New Zealand Authors: Kennedy, Ann-Marie; Ravenswood, Katherine Abstract: New Zealand first introduced legislation for parental leave in 1980, with the Maternity Leave and Employment Protection Act. This Act provided up to 26 weeks of employment protection and unpaid leave for women only. Eligibility required 18 months of continuous employment of 15 hours or more per week for the same employer. Subsequently, there were two major developments in the legislation. In 1987 the introduction of the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act gave men the right to parental leave and reduced eligibility requirements. The second major change was in 2002 with the introduction of paid parental leave in the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Paid Parental Leave) Act. This paper applies Baird’s (2004) typology of maternity leave orientations to analyse the fundamental debates occurring for each of these changes in legislation. An historical approach is used to gain a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the development of parental leave in New Zealand. Baird’s (2004) typology posits that the debate can be categorised into four orientations. Each represents different stakeholder ideologies towards the Australian debate on paid maternity leave in 2002. This paper illustrates through historical analysis of the social commentary surrounding the aforementioned legislation in New Zealand, that Baird’s typology also accurately portrays the changing orientation towards parental leave and employment protection in New Zealand over time. However, in contrast to Baird’s analysis, where she proposes that the orientations describe the viewpoints of different parties within the debate, we have found that one orientation dominates the attitudes behind each major change in legislation. Specifically, this study finds that the Bargaining orientation encompasses the dominant arguments, mechanisms and outcomes of the 1980 legislation; the Business orientation maps well to the 1987 legislation; and the Welfare orientation conveys the development and implementation of the 2002 legislation. The New equity orientation, due to the underlying push for equality which led to the instigation of parental leave in the first instance, is applicable to all of the legislation to some extent. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Khan, Amer http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7051 2010-12-05T17:34:50Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An Account of the Rise and Fall of the Australian Cameleering Industry, 1830-1930 Authors: Khan, Amer Abstract: The Australian cameleering industry, which thrived in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, played a crucial role in the exploration of the Australian outback, and development of the mineral riches of the new colony. The Australian cameleering industry emerged at that time as one of the most thriving and profitable businesses in Australia. It presents a unique scenario whereby immigrants not only came with highly sought after and locally scarce skills but they also brought their own lucrative transport ‘technology’, camels, to their adopted country. This paper intends to open up the aforementioned industry to the Australian business history scholarship. This paper presents an account of key events of the Australian cameleering industry, in order to elicit feedback for further developing theoretical frameworks for that aspect of hitherto inadequately investigated Australian history. Two possible lines of investigation would be specifically elaborated for feedback from business history colleagues. First, the paper traces the rise and ultimate demise of the industry in the wake of the introduction of mechanised transport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; is there a story of an industry going through its life cycle, which could be a good teaching case study in business history? Second, the paper also highlights the dynamics of the cartage industry of that time in terms of the clash between the interests of the powerful and unionised industry incumbents ( the horse and bullock drawn cartage) and the economically more efficient but less politically influential new entrants (the camel carriers). Could this clash of various industry actors also inform policy making on contemporary issues on optimum regulatory responses to managing the interests of various industry actors? Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Colley, Linda http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7050 2010-12-05T17:34:49Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A Not-So-Gentle Invasion: Changes to Women’s Participation in Public Service Workforces in the 1970s Authors: Colley, Linda Abstract: The increase in women’s workforce participation is one of the most significant changes to labour markets in recent decades. This research considers the timing, circumstances and effects of the policy changes that affected the participation of women in the Queensland public service (QPS). It traces the construction of the barriers to women’s participation in the early 1900s, and the dismantling of those barriers in the 1970s. It argues that the Queensland government had effectively created secondary labour market conditions for its female employees, through policies such as the marriage bar, restrictions on the quantity of female recruits and different career structures for women. Decisions to relax or remove these decisions required more than social acceptance, but also conducive labour market and economic conditions. Once the Queensland government removed demand-side barriers in the early 1970s and offered female employees the same pay and opportunities as male employees, women flocked into the Queensland public service – not slowly and gradually in response to preferences and supply-side choices, but dramatically in a short period. The proportion of female employees in the QPS increased disproportionately compared to the increases in the broader Australian labour market. By 1975, women comprised 60 per cent of all recruits to QPS, providing an early forecast of the proportion of women in the QPS today. Description: Peer reviewed

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z Laneyrie, Frances http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7049 2010-12-05T17:34:48Z 2010-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Archival Film: New Opportunities for Case Study Development and Presentation? Authors: Laneyrie, Frances Abstract: The potential opportunities and limitations of utilising archival film as a primary data source have received very little attention from business historians. Archival film can be a rich source of oral and visual material for the development and presentation of historical case study material, but it can also be utilised as a powerful research tool. The paper draws on the experiences of the author, who produced two films during a study of the history of the South Coast Labour Council (SCLC). The SCLC is the peak union body for the Illawarra region of NSW. During the study access to one of the region’s local television newsreel archives provided a rare opportunity to work with primary data that significantly extended the range of possibilities for rich case study development and presentation. The resulting artefacts included 1) a 15 minutes documentary on the 75 year history of the SCLC and; 2) a two hour set of selected historical excerpts. The presentation explores first, a range of essential processes that require consideration when working with this form of data. Issues explored include: 1) access, 2) equipment and 3) production processes. Second, the paper explores a range of research methods that allowed a deeper exploration of the history of the organisation post production. This section includes methods for eliciting memories in focus groups and small groups. Description: Not refereed. Abstract only.

2010-12-01T00:00:00Z